Will College Athletes Cash In?

College sports are big business. They make some universities tens of millions of dollars a year, and top coaches rake in million-dollar salaries. Student athletes, however, have had limited ability to profit from their performances. But that could soon change.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) governs college sports. It allows student athletes to accept scholarships toward college costs. It also—as of 2021—lets them profit from their name, image, and likeness. (That means they can do things like sell autographs or accept money for advertising products.) But the NCAA has long banned student athletes from getting paid to play. It says their focus should be on their education, not on making money.

Now, after a legal battle with student athletes, the NCAA has agreed to a deal that would allow schools to each share about $20 million of their sports income with athletes every year. In addition, some current and former athletes would receive pay going back to 2016. If a judge approves the agreement, these changes could take effect by next fall. 

—Brooke Ross